Complete this conservation: "Mr. Winchester and Mr. Novak, your son has gotten into a fight for the second time this week. We're going to have to suspend him till Tuesday"
âMr. Winchester and Mr. NovakâŚâ Mr Gault stares down over the top of his glasses at the two men. âYour son has gotten into a fight for the second time this week.â Dean notices a barely noticeable curve to the manâs lip; a smirk if he ever saw one.
âWeâre going to have to suspend him till Tuesday,â Mr. Gault continues, âAt the very least.â The pleased expression across his face grows bigger. This man actually seems to be taking a weird sort of pleasure in kicking Matthew out of school.
The kid is six. How bad could the fight have been?
Deanâs nostrils flare and he opens his mouth, ready to read the guy the riot act, but he feels Casâ hand on his arm.
âMr. Gault, this seems a little extreme.â Castiel appears the picture of composure, but Dean can spot the barely concealed anger in that steely, unblinking stare. âIsnât detention the normal protocol for something like this?â Mr. Gaultâs mouth becomes a thin line.
âNormally, yes, but in situations where a student is injured-â
âMatthew hurt a kid?!â Dean blurts out incredulously. âWhy the-â
âUm, actually, your son was the one⌠injured.â Gault admits. Castiel and Dean blink in unison.
âAnother child hurt Matthew and heâs the one getting a suspension?â Castielâs tone seems to drop the temperature in the room five degrees.
âHe instigated the fight,â Gault counters. âAnd this hasnât been the first time-â
âSo why is this the first time weâre hearing about this?â Castiel crosses his arms over his chest defiantly, and now Dean feels like heâs the one who needs to hold his husband at bay.
âYou seem to be dancing around the situation and placing the blame on our kid.â Dean narrows his eyes. âHow about we ask Matthew what happened?â Gaultâs shoulders straighten, and it appears like heâs calling Deanâs bluff.
âAlright.â He picks up the phone on his desk and hits two buttons, talking to someone on the other line and asking them to send Matthew in. The office door opens a second later and Matthew walks in sullenly, remnants of dried blood under his nose and a rather nice bruise on his forehead. Castiel and Dean both rush to him, talking over each other to ask if heâs alright.
âMatthew,â Castiel says, lightly placing a hand on Deanâs shoulder and quieting Dean. âCan you tell us about the fight?â Matthew gives a sullen nod.
âEric Roth invited all the kids in class to his birthday,â Matthew sniffs, âBut he said I couldnât come.â
Castiel frowns. âWell, Matthew, thatâs no reason to start a fight-â
âHe said Iâm gross because I have two dads.â A whimper escapes Matthewâs throat and he wipes as his face with his sleeve. The room goes quiet enough to hear a pin drop and both Das and Dean twist around to look at a very bewildered Mr. Gault.
âHas this happened before, Matthew?â Castiel asks, his voice barely constrained and his eyes not leaving Gault. Matthew nods.
âHe told the other kids not to talk to me because my dads are dirty-â
âOur son is getting bullied and youâre punishing him?!â Dean blurts out as he jumps to his feet, towering over the vice principle.
âUh, well⌠I was told he started the-â
âI donât care who the hell started the fight,â Dean snaps. âYouâre ignoring abuse of your students and then blaming the victim when they fight back?â
âThey shouldnât be fighting at all-â
âAnd this has happened repeatedly.â Castiel finally lets the calm facade drop. âHave Eric Rothâs parents been made aware of their childâs behavior?â
âWell, heâs not the instigator-â
âWeâre done here,â Dean announces firmly, scooping up a still sniffing Matthew into his arms. âI expect to hear that youâve addressed the issues of bullying in your school and you wonât be suspending our child when heâs the victim.â Castiel and Dean walk out Mr. Gaultâs office, leaving the man still gaping like a floundering fish.
As soon as they are out in the parking lot, Dean pulls back to take a look at Matthew. âYou doing ok, buddy?â Matthew gives a small nod.
âDonât worry about that Eric boy,â Castiel says, patting Matthewâs back comfortingly. âDad and I will make sure to talk to his mom.â
âDid he hit you in the nose, Matt?â Dean asks. Matthew nods. âYour forehead too?â
âNo, I head-butted him,â Matthew says. Dean canât help but laugh.
âThatâs my boy,â he says.
âDonât encourage him,â Castiel says with a playful slap across his chest.